Check-unit or valve



June 7, 1955 R. H. BLAcKFoRD E-rAl. 2,710,023

CHECK-UNIT OR VALVE Filed Aug. 22. 1951 ATTORNEYS.

Hay/710 I2 )7 United States Patent() CHECK-UNIT OR VALVE Raymond H.Blackford, Flushing, and Karl von Kokeritz, Staten Island, N. Y., andBernard L. Schwaller, Wayne, Pa., assignors to Durabla ManufacturingCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August22, 1951, Serial No. 243,044

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-543.19)

Our invention has general reference to check-valves and check-units, oranalogous devices, serviceable to control the ow of pressure uids whileit relates, more particularly, to the type we preferably term basiccheckunits, that are designed for individual or multiple installation.Such species of check-unit is disclosed in the copending application ofRaymond H. Blackford led Nov. 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,329 which hasmatured into Patent No. 2,649,277.

The primary object of our present invention is to provide an improvedcheck-unit of the above indicated species including refinements wherebythe scope of its usage is considerably enhanced, and which isfundamentally characterized by an interlocking feature whereby the unitis rendered practically fool proof.

Another object is the provision of an improved checkunit including anovel type of interlocking ring elfective to positively maintain thecheck-unit components in coactive assembly without any possibility ofthe guard becoming positionally disturbed under different operatingconditions; as well as taking axial stresses without developing anytendency to displace said interlocking ring.

A further object of our invention is to provide a checkunit which can beapplied to any standard pipe fitting, or otherwise located individuallyor in multiple, and thereby function as a check valve.

Other objects, with ancillary advantages, will hereinafter bespecifically referred to or become apparent from the following detaileddescription and accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, while thefeatures of novelty are more particularly dened in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of our novelcheck-unit.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same but drawn to a largerscale for clearer illustration of important details.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the several componentsinvolved in the device, of Figs. 1 and 2, and depicted as in spacedaxial alignment for the purpose of clarity.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing our improved check-unit asincluded in a standard pipe fitting or coupling.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat similar sectional View showing the check-unit asadapted to the valve deck of a compressor; and,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the plane designated by the angledarrows VI-VI in Fig. 2.

In describing the forms of our invention typied by the drawings,speciiic terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to beunderstood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each suchterm being intended to embrace all reasonable equivalents which performthe same function for an analogous purpose; while, in all the views,corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and spe- 2,710,023 PatentedJune 7, 1955 ice ciiically to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is to be observedthat our novel or improved check-unit, is comprehensively designated 6and basically comprises tive components, see Fig. 3; namely, areducer-bushing 7; a special, and preferably rectangular-section,retainer snap-ring 8; a valve member or disk 9; a volute spring 10; anda special guard-andguide 11.

The reducer-bushing 7 is conveniently, although not essentially, asubstantial tubulate element 12 with a polygonal-shaped head 13 at itsouter end, Whereas the exterior surface is provided with a pipe thread14 for sealing engagement in the complementally-threaded bore end 15 ofa standard pipe fitting or coupling 16, Fig. 4; or into the socketportion 17 of any other suitable body, such as a tank, or valve chamberwall 18, Fig. 5, for example only, and as readily understood by thoseacquainted with the related arts. The threaded bore 33 of thereducer-bushing 7 is inwardly-inclined or tapered, as shown, andincludes axially aligned plain bore reductions 19, 20, the latter orsmaller 20 of which is diametrically slightly larger than that of theinlet or service line 21.

The smaller end of the reducer-bushing 7 is appropriately formed todefine an annular-seat 22, an adjoining surrounding channel or groove23, and a rectangularly related boring or annular-recess 24, forpurposes hereinafter fully explained. At this juncture it is to beparticularly noted that the surrounding groove 23 is directly concentricwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the reducer-bushing '7 and thatthe inner side face of said groove 23 is co-planar with respect to thespacially concentric annular-seat 22 of the bushing 7, for a purposehereinafter again referred to.

The split retainer-ring 8 is preferably, although not essentially, madeof square-section metal capable of snap expansion and forcedcontraction, while it is provided with terminal ends or projections 25for grippage by a suitable implement to effect such contraction andpermit the expansion thereof when said grippage is released; as readilyappreciated from Fig. 6.

The valve element or disk 9, is preferably of the known corrugatespecies; while the special valve guard and guide 11, includes apreferably square head 26 with dependent corner legs 27. These cornerlegs 27, it is to be observed are of a desirable cross-section to affordguided lift for the valve disk 9, and are also of a longitudinal extentto firmly seat, by aid of outer shouldered reductions 28, in thereducer-bushing annular-recess 24. It is likewise to be observed thatthe inner lower portions of the legs 27 are provided with rectangularnotches 29 for coplanar circumferentially-spaced registration with thereducer-bushing surrounding groove 23; also that, normally, theretainer-ring 8, when the check-unit 6 is in assembly, positivelyinterlocks the reducer-bushing 7 and the combination guide and guard 11rigidly together. In other words, the retainer-ring 8 functions to takeaxial thrusts without involving any relative movement between the parts7 and 11; whereas the annular-recess 24 in the reducer-bushing '7eifectively prevents the guard-legs 27 from any tendency to spread. Theguard head 26 may be provided with a comparatively small axial oriceSti, and an annular groove 31 to centralize the smaller end of thevolute-spring 10, when fully compressed by the valve disk 9; whereas theWider end of the spring 10 seats within the trough intermediateadjoining corrugations of said valve disk 9 for maintenance of thespring 10 properly centralized and restrained against lateraldisplacement during operation. Incidentally it is noteworthy that thecentral orifice 30 induces a better and more even flow of the pressureuid passing through the check-unit 6 than hitherto attainable withkindred devices.

In assembling our novel check-unit the retainer ring 8 is placedconcentric over the annular seat end 22 of the reducer-bushing 7 andonto the inished annular end 35 of the tubular body 12, whereupon theends 25 of said ring are gripped by a pair of pliers-not shownforinstance, and drawn together until the ring 8 is forcibly contractedinto the annular seat adjoining groove 23 and so restrained. The legs 27of the guard 1l are next moved over the inwardly compressed ring S intothe annular recess 24, whereupon the pliers are released when said ringexpansively snaps into rigid engagement in the leg notches 29. Resultantto the just stated action of the ring 8, it will be clearly apparentthat the reducer-bushing 7 and the composite guide-and-guard 11 arerigidly interloclted and positively secured against relative movement.

Referring no'w to Fig. 4, it will be readily understood that byapplication of a standard pipe-coupling 16 to the reducer-bushing 7, ournovel unit 6 is quickly adapted for service as a complete check-valve,without disturbing any of the related parts, for inter-position betweenordinary line piping 21., 32. Furthermore the unit 6, is equally wellapplicable to conventional Ls of diverse angularity; side outlets; beds;drainelbows; Ts and standard elbows, without disturbing any of itsconstituent parts.

From the foregoing it is felt the merits and advantages of our improvedcheck-unit or valve will he clearly apparent, also that the said unit orvalve will positively remain unaffected by widely varied operativelocation without sacrice of any of its operational characteristic. Ithas been proven by actual tests that the improved check-unit or valve ofthis invention evidenced the lowest pressure-drop characteristics, ofany type tested, both at full capacity as well as throughout theoperating range.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. ln a check valve including an enclosure in which is mounted a valveseat having a recess therein and a valve disc coacting with said valveseat to open and close said valve, said valve seat surrounding a valveopening, the combination comprising a valve guard in the form of a headmember spaced from said seat extending transversely of the valveopenings, a plurality of elongated legs attached to said head member andextending substantially perpendicular to said head member toward saidseat member, said legs surrounding and guiding said valve disc, saidlegs having ends extending into said valve seat recess, said ends beingshaped to t tightly into said recess whereby said valve seat limits themovement of said leg ends outwardly, the inner faces of said legs havingdepressions riphery of said valve seat and having capacity to contractinto said groove to permit the insertion of said leg ends into saidvalve seat recess, and said split locking ring heing self-expanding fromsaid valve seat groove into the leg depressions to lock the legs rmly inposition with respect to the valve seat.

2. The check valve defined in claim l wherein said depressions and saids'plit locking ring are of substantially the same cross-sectional sizeand shape, and wherein means are provided in the depression for limitingthe penetration of the locking .ring into said depression, whereby afterexpansion of the locking ring a part of the locking ring is engagedwithin said valve seat groove and another part of said locking ring isengaged in said depression thereby locking said legs with respect tosaid valve seat.

3. The check valve defined in claim 1 wherein stop means are provided onthe legs which coact with the valve seat to limit the penetration ofsaid legs into said recess to a position wherein the depressions in saidlegs are in registry with said groove in said valve seat.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,160,707 Garber Nov. 16, 1915 1,236,950 Laycock Aug. 14, 1917 1,275,697Joyce Aug. 13, 1918 1,770,669 Martinet July 15, 1930 1,900,736Richardson Mar. 7, 1933 1,959,644 Richardson May 22, 1934 1,993,567Richardson Mar. 5, 1935 2,038,267 Bullard Apr. 21, 1936 2,216,622 MillerOct. 1, 1940 2,253,643 Mueller Aug. 26, 1941 2,265,554 Thomas Dec. 9,1941 2,591,060 Garretson Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 802,307 France1936 673,045 Germany 1939

